Time-controlled circuit controller



'July 24, 1928. 1,678,217

R. R. GONSETT v TIME CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Aug. 12, 1926 I N V EN TOR. P05527- E. Goxuszrr ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrica.

ROBERT R. GONSETT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 0F ONE-HALF T0 AMORY J. SMITH, ONE-EIGHTH TO WESLEY D. SPENCER, AND ONE THIRTY-SECOND TO VIRGIL V. ULLOM, ALL OF LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA.

TIME-CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

Application filed August 12, 1926. Serial No. 128,841.

terposed in the circuit of a radio receiving set will beoperated by the alarm mechanism of the clock to control the operation of the receiving set at such time as predetermined by the setting of the alarm mechanism.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a time controlled switch of the above described character which is manually adjustable to arbitrarily cause the alarm mechanism to'move the switch from open to closed position and .thus efi'ect operation of the receiving set at a predetermined time, or from closed to open position to discont nue the operation of the set at a predetermmed time.

I will describe only one form of time con-- trolled circuit controller embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view showing in vertical section bne form of circuit controller embodying my invention in applied posit-ion to a conventional form of alarm clock and lllllS- trating the original set position of the controller;

Figures 2, 3 and 4: are views similar to Figure 1 showing other positions of the con troller;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view partly in sectidn, showing a portion of the controller in side elevation. 6

Similar reference characters refer to sumlar parts in each of. the several views.

' Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention, in its present embodiment, 1s shown applied to a conventional formpf alarm clock through the back 15 of which extends the threaded end of the arbor 16 for the alarm spring 17, a cover plate 18 being secured to the back of the clock case in The circuit controller includes a windingv stem 20 having a threaded socket 21 at its inner end for engagement with the arbor, and a key 22 at its outer end by which the stem can be manually rotated in a counterclockwise direction as when viewed in Figure 1 for the purpose of winding the alarm spring. Formed integral with or secured to the stem is a head 23. and freely rotatable on the stem adjacent the head is an arm 2& which is urged outwardly toward the head by a spring 25. The head carries a radially disposed lug 26 which is adapted to engage an extension 27 of a link 28, the extension being formed on one end of the link and extended through a suitable opening in one end of the arm 24. The opposite end of the link is pivotally connected to one end of a contact arm 29, the latter constituting part of an electric switch which as shown in Fig ure 1, includes a pair of stationary contacts 30 insulated from each other and mounted in the casing 31 secured to the back of the clock. The contact arm 29 is fulcrumed at the point indicated at 32 and is provided with a conducting portion 33 insulated from the main body of the arm and adapted to bridge the contacts 30 when in the closed position shown in Figure 2. A spring 34- is associated with the arm to urge the latter to the open position shown in Figure 1 or to the closed position shown in Figure 2, it being understood that the spring urges the lever past dead center in either direction.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6 a til-shaped frame 35 is secured to the back 15 and in this frame is mounted a pintle 36 upon which an escapement pawl 37 is pivotally mounted and urged outwardly to the position shown in Figure 6 by means of a spring 38. The bill end of the pawl is provided with a cam surface 39, while the pivoted end is formed with a projection 40 adapted to be engaged by the extension 27 to swing the pawl from the non-checking posit-ion shown in Figure 3 to the checking position shown in Figure 2. y

In the present adaptation of my invention, the stationary contacts 30 of the switch are adapted to form the terminals of the circuit I tacts are bridged by the movable contact 33.

The operation of the circuit controller is.

as follows: Let it be assumed that the winding stem has been manually rotated in a counterclockwise direction to partially wind the-alarm spring 17. During such movement the parts of the circuit controller are moved to the position shown in Figure 1, which I term' the original set position. In this position of the circuit controller the extension 27 has engaged the projection to throw the escapement pawl into checking position, and the lug 26 is in engagement with the extension at the left side thereof. The contact arm 29 is in open position with respect to the contacts 30 and maintained in this position by the spring 34. When the alarm mechanism is set into operation, the winding stem 20 is rotated in a clockwise direction, thereby rotating the lug 26 to the position shown in the extension 27 is engaged at the other side and moved until it abuts the bill end of the escapement pawl 37, when the winding stem is checked against further unwinding movement. Under this movement of the extension, the link 28 is actuated to move the contact arm 29 to the closed position shown in Figure 2, whereby the circuit for the radio receiving set is completed and the latter set into operation. It is to be particularly noted that the lug 26 in rotating in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 2 wipes the cam surface 39, thereby causing the pawl to yield I laterally against the tension of the spring 38 and thus permitting the lug to continue its rotative movement.

If it should be desired to subsequently discontinue the operation of the radio receiving set at a predetermined time, the alarm mechanism is again partly wound by rotating the winding stem 20 in a counterclockwise direction until the lug 26 reaches the position shown in Figure 3. In this position of the lug, the escapement pawl hasbeen cammed downwardly to non-checking position by the engagement of the lug with the bill end of the pawl. Upon operation of the alarm mechanism at the predetermined time, the winding stem again rotates in a clockwise direction and ultimately to the position shown in Figure 4:, during which the lug 26 engages and lifts the extension 27 thereby imparting a corresponding movement to the link 28 so as tomove the contact arm to the open position shown in Figure 4. With the contact arm in open position, it will be clear that the operation of the radio receiving set is discontmued.

Should it be desired to restore the circuit controller to the original set position shown in Figure 1. thealarm mechanism is again Figure 2, during which.

wound through the winding stem 20, thereby causing the lug 26 to engage the extension 27 and move the latter downwardly past the bill end of the pawl and into engagement with the projection 40, whereby the pawl is returned to checking position, as illustrated in Figure 1.

From the foregoing operation, it will be manifest that I have provided a circuitcontroller which, in its association with the alarm mechanism of a clock, is capable of being manually set to occupy the position shown in Figure 1 or that shown in Figure 3, and upon operation of the alarm mechanism to automatically close the switch from the set position in Figure 1 or to automatically open the switch for the set position shown in Figure 3. Thus the circuit controller in its adaptation to a radio receiving set is capable of being set to effect the operation or discontinuance of the radio receiving set at a predetermined time.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of time controlled circuit controller embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A circuit controller comprising a stem adapted for connection with the alarm winding arbor of a clock to rotate with the arbor, a lug fixed on the stem, an arm rotatable on the stem, a switch having a movable contact arm, a connecting link between the contact arm and the rotatable arm, an extension on the rotatable arm adapted to be engaged by the lug, and an escapement pawl capable of pivotal and lateral movements and d1sposed in the paths of movement of the lug and extension, the original set position of the lug and extension being such that when the stem rotates in its unwinding movement the lug through the extension actuates the link to move the contact arm and close the switch, with the extension being ultimately engaged by the pawl and thus checking further movement of the lug and consequently further unwinding movement of the stem.

2. A circuit controller comprising a stem adapted for connection with the alarm winding arbor of a clock to rotate with the arbor, a lug fixed on the stem, a switch occupying a closed position and having a movable contact arm, a connecting link between the contact arm and the rotatable arm, an extension on the rotatable arm adapted to be engaged by the lug, and an escapement pawl capable of pivotal and lateral movements and d1sposed in the paths of movements of the lug and extension so as to limit the unwinding movement of the stem, said lug operating during a winding movement of the stem to engage and move the pawl out of the paths 3. A circuit controller .eis embodied in of movement of the lug and extension, claim '1, wherein the {pawl is'constructed to whereby upon unwinding movement of the be camnied by the Hag to non-checking posi- 10 stem, the lug and extension will be free to tionmnd engaged lijg the extension to return,

- pass the pawl so that the link will be actuthe p'awl to checking position.

V ated to move-the contact arm and open the switch. ROBERT R. GONSETT. 

